Lionel Messi, Luis Enrique argued in Barcelona training, says Mathieu

Barcelona star Lionel Messi and coach Luis Enrique had an argument on the club's training ground earlier this month but the pair quickly made up afterwards, according to Barca defender Jeremy Mathieu.

Messi and his coach has been the subject of intense media speculation in recent weeks, with various figures at the club regularly denying reports of tension in their relationship.

Messi and Luis Enrique's relationship has been under plenty of scrutiny in Spain.

Mathieu, 31, who moved to the Camp Nou last summer, revealed the pair had exchanged angry words just after the turn of the year.

"It was when we got back from holiday," Mathieu said to RMC of the incident that occurred at the La Liga club's training centre on Jan. 2. "Suddenly, for a foul that wasn't given, 'Leo' blew his top. Things got tense, they said a few things to each other.

"The coach came to speak to him in the dressing room afterwards and that's that. It happens at every club, but because it's Barcelona, it's made out to be a huge thing. That's the problem."

Two days after the bust-up, Messi surprisingly started his club's league game with Real Sociedad on the bench, and then missed an open training session the following day, which the club said was due to a bout of gastroenteritis.